Apparatus for separating liquids of different gravity



May 8, 1934. w. LINNMANN, JR

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQU IDS OF DIFFERENT GRAVITY Filed Feb. 24 1950 7], 57272 72237172 Zia v 7'. 213 4%.

Patented May 8, 1934 g UNITED sures f PATENT OFFlCE APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING LIQUIDS OF DIFFERENT. GRAVITY Wilhelm Linnmann, Jr., Essen-Altenessen,

Germany 9 Application February 24, 1930, Serial at. 430,644 In Germany June 20, 1928 4 Claims. (01. 210-56) 10 and with this object in view my invention consists in supplying the liquids to the receptacle tangential direction so that separation is supported by centrifugal action. A further object is to so construct the receptacle and the inlet passage thereto and the outlet therefrom that a particular mass of the liquids to be separated will be caused to move over apath as long as possible within the receptacle so as to remain within the receptacle a sufiicient length of time to assure separation by the natural tendency of the liquids to separate, aided to some extent by centrifugal force. L I

A further object is to provideguch a device in which the liquid is caused to enter the receptacle in such a way as to cause a minimum of disturbance of the liquid in the receptacle.

A further object is to provide such a device in which the discharge passage begins at a point near the bottom of the receptacle so as to allow 30 the discharge only of the heavier liquid or liquids,

the discharge passage being, however, carried to a higher point so as to cause the liquids in the receptacle to rise to such point so as to insure that the lighter liquids will always remain in the upper part of the receptacle and therefore can not escape from said receptacle.

' A'further object is the provision in such a device wherein the liquids are caused to rotate within the receptacle of a discharge passage 10- 40 cated near the bottom of said receptacle and at the outer edge thereof, so as to allowthe discharge only of the heavier liquids which drop to the bottom due to their greater specific gravity and which are driven to the outer edge due to the action of centrifugal force on liquids of different specific gravity.

Other objects will be apparent from the description and drawing. For the purpose of explaining the invention two alternative embodiments of the same have been shown in the accompanying drawing, in-

which the same letters of reference have been parts. In said drawing Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus .taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and I Fig. 3 is a similar sectional plan'view showing a modification.

The present invention is an improvement on the devices shown, for example, in .the patents to Linnmann 1,671,115 granted May 29, 1928 and 1,655,191 granted January 3, 1928.

The purpose of the'device embodying the present invention, as in the case of my said earlier patents, is to provide a receptacle having an inlet for liquids of diiferent specific gravity and an outlet therefrom for the liquid or liquids of higher specific gravity. The lighter liquids such as gasoline and oil remain in the receptacle and "matically close the outlet after a certain amount of the lighter lquid has accumulated in the receptacle. While such automatic means may also be applied to the device disclosed herein, it is to be understoodthat the present invention is not limited to use with such devices, as it will be fully capable of performing the function for which it is intended if the attendant will remove the lighter liquids at proper intervals.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the separating apparatus comprises a vertical cylindrical casing, 11, the

upper end of which may be open for convenience in cleaning, but said opening is preferably and usually closed by any suitable means such as lid, 9'. The discharge pipe, e, as shown, is connected to the side 'of the casing near its bottom, and is formed with a vertical portion, e, which extends upwardly to a point above .the middle of the receptacle, b, at which point it is shown as having a more or less horizontal continuation, e". The letter a designates the intake pipe for the plurality of liquids to be separated. Said intake pipe v is preferably as shown, so located that the intake port is below the section e" of the discharge pipe. It will be readily seen that thejeve l of the liquid in the receptacle b will' be at approximately the plane indicated by the letter I, so that the entry, port to the feceptacle is submerged. As most of the lighter liquids will have risen to the top,

' opens into the receptacle, b, in tangential direction, and preferably into the circumferential enlarged portion, or gutter,- c, of the receptacle,

- which enlarged portion may be in the form of intermediate of its ends.

a collar cast integral with the receptacle wall The said gutter is'preferably gradually reduced in cross-sectional area from the intake towardsthe end remote therefrom. As shown, this gutter throughout its length opens at its inner side in a generally horizontal plane into the receptacle. It will be noted that the said gutter, c, is located below the normal liquid level, so that the entry port is submerged. As the cross-sectional area of the gutter is progressively decreasing, and.as liquids are practically incompressible, it will be noted that the liquids will be gradually forced out of the gutter as the movement progresses. Therefore, instead of having the liquid enter the receptacle in a concentrated stream at high velocity, it enters the receptacle and mingles with the liquid therein at-a relatively low velocity, due to the larger effective area of the entrance port. This relatively low velocity of entrance will impose the minimum opposition to the rise or the lighter components and the sinking of the heavier components. Furthermore, the entry angle of the entering liquids is somewhat between a radial line and the tangent" so that the entering liquid has the effect of causing rotation of the body of liquid within the .receptacle, which rotation is eflected with a minimum amount of agitation and recommingling of the liquids originally standinginthe receptacle.

In view of this rotati on oi the-mass of liquid in the receptacle, a particular quantity of liquid entering the receptacle is caused to travel through a very long, path before it can possibly reach the exit port. It necessarilyrequires considerable time to follow this long path (sometimes many times around the axis of the receptacle) during which time further separation occurs, 1. c. any liquids which have not been separated by the centrifugal action in v the gutter, 0, will have adequate time to separate so that the lighter liquids may rise to the top and the heavier liquids will drop to the bottom where they may pass out through the enlarged portion or gutter, 0 is shaped accorddischarge pipe, e, e', e". Practical experiments have shown that this rotary motion occurs much more strongly at the lowerpart of the receptacle than at the upper.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 is similar to the one illustrated inFigs. l and 2, but in lieu of the cylindrical receptacle a receptacle, b, of generally square cross-section is used. and the I claim': H 1. Apparatus for separating liquids of different specific gravities comprising a receptacle having a tangential inlet for the liquids intermediate of its ends and a gutter extending therefrom circumferentially of the receptaclewall in which the liquids of difierent specific gravities are separated by centrifugal force, said gutter being disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to the receptacle and terminating in circumferentially spaced relation from the liquid inlet, said gutter throughout its length-having upper and lower surfaces disposed substantially at right angles to the receptacle wall and defining an open inner side of the gutter through which the liquid of lower specific gravity is delivered in a concentrated stream into the receptacle to facilitate rising thereof into the upper part of the receptacle.

2. An apparatus for separating liquids of diffe'rent specific gravities comprising a storage receptacle, a discharge passage leading from near the bottom of said receptacle and constructed to maintain a liquid level therein at a substantial distance above the bottom thereof and an inlet passage for the entrance of a plurality of liquids to be separated. located at a point a-substantial distance above said discharge passage and a substantial distance below the lower liquid level of the lighter liquid, said inlet passage being disposed generally tangentially of said receptacle, and a gutter forming a continuation of said intet passage extending circumferentially of the receptacle wall.

3. An apparatus for separating liquids of difierent specific gravities comprising a storage receptacle, a discharge passage leading from near the bottom of said receptacle and constructed to maintain a liquid level therein at a substantial distance above the bottom thereof and an inlet passage for the entrance of a plurality of liquids to be separated, located at a point a substantial distance above said discharge passage and a substantial distance below .the lower liquid level of the lighter liquid, said inlet passage being disdistance above the bottom thereof and an inlet passage for the entrance of a plurality of liquids tobe separated, located at a'point a" substantial distance above the discharge passage and a substantial distance below the lower liquid level of the lighter liquid, said inlet passage being disposed generally tangentially of said receptacle, and a gutter forming a continuation of said inlet passage extending circumferentially of the receptacle wall, said gutter being formed of gradually decreasing cross-sectional ,area.

WILHELM LINNMANN. JUN. 

